Boat trim construction

ABSTRACT

A boat construction to secure the sheet material deck to the sheet configuration of the gunwales of the hull wherein an elongated U-shaped trim strip is employed, the edge of the deck to be positioned between the inner and outer legs of the strip, the inner leg being in direct contact with the gunwales, an adhesive in viscous liquid form to be located between the deck and the gunwales and in contact with the inner leg, the strip and the edge of the deck to be forcibly moved outwardly to permit insertion of the adhesive.

United States Patent [191 utler [111 3,827,092 1 Aug. 6, 1974 BOAT TRIM CONSTRUCTION Inventor: Frank W. Butler, 3807 Weatherly Cir., Westlake Village, Calif. 91324 Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 353,443

[1.8. CI. 9/6 Int. Cl B63b 3/00 Field of Search 9/6, 1 R, 6.5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,133,294 5/1964 Kunz 9/6 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 965,055 7/1964 Great Britain 9/6 Primary Examiner--Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Geauque 5 7] ABSTRACT A boat construction to secure the sheet material deck to the sheet configuration of the gunwales of the hull wherein an elongated U-shaped trim strip is employed, the edge of the deck to be positioned between the inner and outer legs of the strip, the inner leg being in direct contact with the gunwales, an adhesive in viscous liquid form to be located between the deck and the gunwales and in contact with the inner leg, the strip and the edge of the deck to be forcibly moved outwardly to permit insertion of the adhesive.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 61974 3.827. 092

Fly. I.

BOAT TRIM CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bolt construction and more particularly to a novel improvement in securing the hull of a boat to the deck of a boat to maintain ridigity along the gunwales and for holding the top deck rigidly to the hull.

Most of the small boats which are currently being manufactured are constructed of thin sheet hulls and decks. The material of construction is normally fiberglass which has a high strength per weight ratio and therefore the weight of the craft can be held at a minimum without sacrificing strength.

Because of the thinness of the hull and the deck, it has been difficult to achieve a strong rigid connection therebetween. It has been found that the employing of a conventional fastening means between the deck and the hull is quite inadequate. A mere bonding by adhesive of the deck to the hull is also inadequate with there not being sufficient ridigidy at the connection.

A need has arisen for a connection between the thin decking and the thin hull construction of a boat which is substantially rigid while also establishing an extremely strong bond which does not break apart after several years of continual use of the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of the type of boat which is to include the construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the connection of the gunwales to the deck taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a first modified form of trim strip employed within this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a second modified form of trim strip of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a boat which is basically composed of a hull 12, a deck 14 and a cabin 16. The boat shown in FIG. 1 includes a mast 18 to which is attached a sail 20. It is normally desirable to make sailboats of a lightweight construction so that the performance of the sailboat will be increased. The construction of this invention is particularly adapted to lightweight construction and therefore is particularly adapted to sailing craft. However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention to employ the construction of this invention on other craft such as power boats.

The edge 22 of the deck 14 is enlarged to form a flange 24. The deck 14 will normally be constructed of a solid sheet of fiberglass and of dimensions to tightly fit over the gunwales 26 of the hull l2. Normally, the hull including the gunwale section 26 will be formed as an integral section.

An elongated U-shaped plastic trimming strip 28 is to be employed which has an inner leg 30 and an outer leg 32 which are connected together through an apex portion 34. The edge 22 and the flange 24 are to be snugly fitted between the legs 30 and 32 of the strip 28. It is to be understood that the strip 28 is to be placed about the entire edge 22 of the deck 14.

The inner leg 30 is of a shorter length than the outer leg '32. Constructing of the inner leg of a shorter length is so that a greater adhesive pocket will be formed (to be described later on in the specification) when connecting together the deck 14 to the gunwales 26. However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention to modify the length of either the legs 30 or 32 if desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the free edge of the leg 32 of the strip is flared inwardly toward the deck 14. This is primarily for appearance and also so no sharp edges will be exposed that may injure a person or damage clothing. Also, the outward side of the leg 32 may include a design thereon for appearance purposes.

The inner leg within the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawing includes an elongated recess 36. The recess 36 serves to function as an additional adhesive pocket which is to be described further on in the specification.

It is also considered to be within the scope of this invention to not employ the recess 36. Referring particularly to FIG. 3 of the drawing, the inner leg 30 is shown with the recess 36 eliminated and the edge of the inner leg 30 is substantially planar.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4 of the drawing, the outer edge of the leg 32 may include a hook portion 38 which is to snap into a cooperating groove 40 formed within the deck 14. The hook 38 and the groove 40 cooperate to securely retain the strip 28 in position upon the deck 14 and also eliminates an air pocket between the leg 32 and the deck 14 which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This air pocket can become a catch-all for water and dirt which is eliminated with the embodiment of FIG. 4.

With the strip 28 attached to the edge 22 of the deck 14, the deck 14 is then placed, as an integral complete piece, upon the complete hull unit. This fitting of the deck 14 upon the hull 12 is to be accomplished so that a tight fit occurs therebetween. A person then inserts a tool, not shown, between the deck 14 and the gunwales 26 past the inner leg 30 of the strip 28. The operator then pries apart a small distance the strip 28 and its connected edge 22 from the gunwales 26. The operator then applies a viscous adhesive 44 in between the deck 14, the surface of the inner leg 30 and the gunwales 26. This adhesive would normally be applied by a gun of some type which squirts the adhesive up into the pocket 42. Once a sufficient amount of adhesive 44 has been inserted within the pocket 42, the tool is removed and the edge 22 of the deck 14 is permitted to spring back toward the gunwales 26. This spring back action insures that continuous spreading of the adhesive occurs within the pocket 42 and upon the surface of the inner leg 30. In actual practice the tool will be moved longitudinally along the gunwales 26 and will not actually be removed. During the time it is moved along, the adhesive will be continuously applied.

After the continuous application of the adhesive, the adhesive is given time to set with the result that an integral boat structure will be formed between the hull 12 and the deck 14. The type of adhesive employed would normally be an epoxy resin type. However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention to employ other types of adhesive.

What is claimed is:

l. A boat construction comprising:

a boat deck edge located exteriorly of the gunwale of the hull;

an elongated U-shaped trim strip, the edge of said deck to be positioned between the inner leg and the outer leg of the U-shaped strip, the inner leg being located between the deck edge and the gunwale; and

an adhesive located between the deck edge and the gunwale and in contact with the inner leg to secure the boat deck to the hull.

2. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein:

said inner leg being shorter in length than said outer leg, a pocket for adhesive defined by the inner surface of said deck edge, the outer surface of said gunwale, and the free end surface of said inner leg.

3. The boat construction as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said inner leg including an elongated recess in the side adjacent said gunwale whereby a space is formed for the adhesive and causes a more secure attachment of the deck to the hull.

4. The boat construction as defined in claim 2 wherein adhesive extends between said gunwale and said inner leg.

5. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the free end of said outer leg includes a hook portion and the free end of said inner leg being straight, said hook portion to matingly cooperate within an elongated groove formed upon said deck edge whereby to more securely retain said trim strip upon the edge of said deck.

6. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said deck edge and gunwale are fabricated of a slightly flexible material so that said deck edge and gunwale can be forced apart to permit insertion of said adhesive.

7. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 having said outer leg flared inwardly at its free end, a flange forming an outer step surface at the free end of said deck edge, said flared end being moved past said stepped surface to where said deck edge is positioned in said strip so that said flared end resists removal of said strip from said deck edge.

8. A boat construction comprising:

a deck having a downwardly turned edge around its circumference, said edge having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having an end flange comprising a outwardly stepped surface at the end thereof,

a hull having a gunwale at its upper edge for insertion inwardly of said deck edge and adjacent the inner surface of said deck edge,

an elongated U-shaped strip having an inner leg and outer leg and a bottom apex portion, said outer leg being flared inwardly at its free end and said inner leg being shorter than said outer leg to provide a space therebetween for insertion of said deck edge into said strip past said flared end, said inner leg being located between said deck edge and said gunwale and said flared end overlying the step in said outer surface, and

an adhesive located in a pocket between said deck edge and said gunwale formed by the presence of said inner leg. 

1. A boat construction comprising: a boat deck edge located exteriorly of the gunwale of the hull; an elongated U-shaped trim strip, the edge of said deck to be positioned between the inner leg and the outer leg of the Ushaped strip, the inner leg being located between the deck edge and the gunwale; and an adhesive located between the deck edge and the gunwale and in contact with the inner leg to secure the boat deck to the hull.
 2. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein: said inner leg being shorter in length than said outer leg, a pocket for adhesive defined by the inner surface of said deck edge, the outer surface of said gunwale, and the free end surface of said inner leg.
 3. The boat construction as defined in claim 2 wherein: said inner leg including an elongated recess in the side adjacent said gunwale whereby a space is formed for the adhesive and causes a more secure attachment of the deck to the hull.
 4. The boat construction as defined in claim 2 wherein adhesive extends between said gunwale and said inner leg.
 5. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 wherein: the free end of said outer leg includes a hook portion and the free end of said inner leg being straight, said hook portion to matingly cooperate within an elongated groove formed upon said deck edge whereby to more securely retain said trim strip upon the edge of said deck.
 6. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said deck edge and gunwale are fabricated of a slightly flexible material so that said deck edge and gunwale can be forced apart to permit insertion of said adhesive.
 7. The boat construction as defined in claim 1 having said outer leg flared inwardly at its free end, a flange forming an outer step surface at the free end of said deck edge, said flared end being moved past said stepped surface to where said deck edge is positioned in said strip so that said flared end resists removal of said strip from said deck edge.
 8. A boat construction comprising: a deck having a downwardly turned edge around its circumference, said edge having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having an end flange comprising a outwardly stepped surface at the end thereof, a hull having a gunwale at its upper edge for insertion inwardly of said deck edge and adjacent the inner surface of said deck edge, an elongated U-shaped strip having an inner leg and outer leg and a bottom apex portion, said outer leg being flared inwardly at its free end and said inner leg being shorter than said outer leg to provide a space therebetween for insertion of said deck edge into said strip past said flared end, said inner leg being located between said deck edge and said gunwale and said flared end overlying the step in said outer surface, and an adhesive located in a pocket between said deck edge and said gunwale formed by the presence of said inner leg. 